CHAPTER X.
IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION.
"And now, Colorado, son of my heart," the Skipper said, "you understand why I was a thief that yesterday, and why I could not permit you at that instant to tell of my thieving ?" They had put the old man to bed, and Mr.Bill Hen had gone for the doctor.

In fact, when John ran out of the door, he had found Mr.Bill Hen leaning up against it, as speechless, with amazement and confusion, as Mr.Scraper himself! The good man, wholly unable to restrain his curiosity, had followed the Skipper and the boy, unbeknown to them, and posting himself in a convenient angle of the porch, had heard every word of the conversation.

The Skipper, perceiving the facts, managed to rouse him with a few sharp words, and sent him off in hot haste to the village; and had then proceeded to make the old gentleman comfortable, and to set things shipshape, so far as might be.
"Do you think he will die ?" asked John, peeping over the bed at the sunken features of the old man.
"I do not!" was the reply.
"I think this my revered uncle has yet many years to live--and repent, if so he be minded.

He is a very bad old man, Colorado, this my revered uncle! Ah, thou ancient fish, thou art finally landed!" "Are you sorry for a person when he is so bad as that ?" asked the boy, as he had asked once before.
"Do you think a person could make him better, if he tried very hard indeed ?" "I have no knowledge!" said the Skipper, rather shortly.

"I am a human person altogether, my son! and I concern myself not greatly with the improvement of this my revered uncle.